Sensex falls from record to end flat before monthly settlement

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark index Sensex on Tuesday retreated from record levels to close almost flat with moderate loss of 6 points due to profit booking in IT, metal and auto stocks ahead of monthly settlement in derivatives.

The 30-share index had climbed to all time high of 22,853.03 points in early trade on select buying in bluechips. However, the barometer pared gains later in the day due to profit booking and ended with marginal loss of 6.46 points, or 0.03 percent, at 22,758.37 points.

The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also climbed to record level of 6,838, before ending at 6,815.35, down by 2.30 points, or 0.03 percent.

IT, metal and auto stocks witnessed profit booking after a recent rally pulling the indices back from record levels, brokers said.

Investors were also offloading their positions as the monthly settlement preponed to Wednesday, they added. Market will be closed on Thursday for Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai. "In coming sessions, 6830 shall be crucial deciding level in near term, and index is likely to witness further buying above this level," Goyal said.

Among major losers, Sesa Sterlite fell by 4.01 percent, Wipro by 2.80 percent, while Infosys, SBI and Tata Motors fell up to 1 percent.

In 30-BSE index components, 18 stocks declined. Bajaj Auto, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Steel were also among major losers.

The metal sector index suffered the most by losing 0.79 percent to 10,412.29 followed by IT index by 0.55 percent to 8,798.05. Teck index lost 0.52 percent to 4,916 and FMCG index by 0.46 percent to 6,949.55.

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark index Sensex on Tuesday retreated from record levels to close almost flat with moderate loss of 6 points due to profit booking in IT, metal and auto stocks ahead of monthly settlement in derivatives.

The 30-share index had climbed to all time high of 22,853.03 points in early trade on select buying in bluechips. However, the barometer pared gains later in the day due to profit booking and ended with marginal loss of 6.46 points, or 0.03 percent, at 22,758.37 points.

The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also climbed to record level of 6,838, before ending at 6,815.35, down by 2.30 points, or 0.03 percent.

In 30-BSE index components, 18 stocks declined. Bajaj Auto, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Steel were also among major losers.

The metal sector index suffered the most by losing 0.79 percent to 10,412.29 followed by IT index by 0.55 percent to 8,798.05. Teck index lost 0.52 percent to 4,916 and FMCG index by 0.46 percent to 6,949.55.